Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/20—Servers specifically adapted for the distribution of content, e.g. VOD servers; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/23—Processing of content or additional data; Elementary server operations; Server middleware
  • H04N21/239—Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests
  • H04N21/2393—Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests involving handling client requests
  • H04N21/2396—Interfacing the upstream path of the transmission network, e.g. prioritizing client content requests involving handling client requests characterized by admission policies
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
  • H04N21/4302—Content synchronisation processes, e.g. decoder synchronisation
  • H04N21/4305—Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/24—Systems for the transmission of television signals using pulse code modulation
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
  • H04N21/434—Disassembling of a multiplex stream, e.g. demultiplexing audio and video streams, extraction of additional data from a video stream; Remultiplexing of multiplex streams; Extraction or processing of SI; Disassembling of packetised elementary stream
  • H04N21/4345—Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
  • H04N21/438—Interfacing the downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. retrieving encoded video stream packets from an IP network
  • H04N21/4383—Accessing a communication channel
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/40—Client devices specifically adapted for the reception of or interaction with content, e.g. set-top-box [STB]; Operations thereof
  • H04N21/43—Processing of content or additional data, e.g. demultiplexing additional data from a digital video stream; Elementary client operations, e.g. monitoring of home network or synchronising decoder's clock; Client middleware
  • H04N21/442—Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. detecting the failure of a recording device, monitoring the downstream bandwidth, the number of times a movie has been viewed, the storage space available from the internal hard disk
  • H04N21/44209—Monitoring of downstream path of the transmission network originating from a server, e.g. bandwidth variations of a wireless network
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
  • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
  • H04N21/854—Content authoring
  • H04N21/8547—Content authoring involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N21/00—Selective content distribution, e.g. interactive television or video on demand [VOD]
  • H04N21/80—Generation or processing of content or additional data by content creator independently of the distribution process; Content per se
  • H04N21/85—Assembly of content; Generation of multimedia applications
  • H04N21/858—Linking data to content, e.g. by linking an URL to a video object, by creating a hotspot
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
  • H04N7/162—Authorising the user terminal, e.g. by paying; Registering the use of a subscription channel, e.g. billing
  • H04N7/165—Centralised control of user terminal ; Registering at central
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
  • H04N7/00—Television systems
  • H04N7/16—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems
  • H04N7/173—Analogue secrecy systems; Analogue subscription systems with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a reception apparatus, a reception method, a transmission apparatus, a transmission method, a program, and a broadcast system, and more particularly, to a reception apparatus, a reception method, a transmission apparatus, a transmission method, a program, and a broadcast system that are suitable for use in a case of executing data content while interlocking with the progress of AV content corresponding to so-called television programs in digital television broadcast, for example.
• the digitization of television broadcast has been promoted in Japan and terrestrial digital broadcast, BS digital broadcast, and the like are widely diffused.
• the digital television broadcast such as terrestrial digital broadcast realizes not only broadcast of AV content corresponding to so-called television programs but also so-called data content.
• display of information related to a television program being broadcast AV content
• display of information that is not related to a television program being broadcast announcement of another television program, news, weather report, traffic information, etc.
• execution of applications that interlock with a television program being broadcast are enabled (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
• the broadcast of data content in Japan is realized by securing a band for data broadcast in a broadcast band for digital television broadcast in advance at a time of digitizing television broadcast, and broadcasting data content using this band.
• the broadcast band in the current digital television broadcast in the United States is occupied by a video band, an audio band, and a control information band as shown in Fig. 1A, and a band for broadcasting data content is not provided. Therefore, to secure a band for broadcasting data content in the limited broadcast band of the digital television broadcast, the video band and the audio band are necessary to be reduced in size as shown in Fig. 1B.
• CATV CATV
• Fig. 2 shows an example of a structure of a retransmission system of digital television programs using a CATV network.
• the retransmission system mainly includes a broadcast or output apparatus 1, a CATV retransmission apparatus 2, a CATV network 3, a digital television set 4, a set top box (STB) 5, and a television set 6.
• the broadcast apparatus 1 installed in a broadcast station or the like broadcasts, or alternatively, outputs to a transmitter, a digital television broadcast signal.
• the broadcast may be by terrestrial waves or satellite waves.
• the CATV retransmission apparatus 2 installed in a cable TV station or the like receives digital television broadcast that has been broadcast, and removes unnecessary information therefrom and adds information specific to CATV thereto, to thereby retransmit the resultant to the digital television set 4, the set top box 5, and the like via the CATV network 3.
• the CATV retransmission apparatus 2 includes a tuner 11, a PID filter 12 for filtering a packet of a predetermined packet ID, a CATV-specific signal generation section 13, a multiplexing section 14, and a modulation section 15.
• the tuner 11 receives and demodulates a digital television broadcast signal of each channel and outputs a resultant TS (transport stream) to the PID filter 12.
• the PID filter 12 removes a packet (that is not related to AV content as television program) corresponding to a predetermined packet ID from the TS and outputs the TS to the multiplexing section 14.
• the CATV-specific signal generation section 13 generates a packet storing information specific to a relevant CATV station and outputs the packet to the multiplexing section 14.
• the multiplexing section 14 multiplexes the output of the PID filter 12 and the output of the CATV-specific signal generation section 13 and outputs the resultant to the modulation section 15.
• the modulation section 15 modulates the output of the multiplexing section 14 by a modulation system suitable for the CATV network 3 and retransmits the resultant to the digital television set 4, the set top box 5, and the like via the CATV network 3.
• the digital television set 4 that supports CATV receives the TS of the retransmitted digital television broadcast via the CATV network 3 and decodes the TS, and then displays a resultant video and outputs audio at the same time.
• the set top box 5 that supports CATV receives the TS of the retransmitted digital television broadcast via the CATV network 3 and decodes the TS, and then outputs resultant video and audio signals to the television set 6 via an HDMI cable or the like.
• the television set 6 displays the video and outputs the audio based on the video signal and the audio signal input from the set top box 5 via the HDMI cable or the like.
• a packet (that is not related to AV content as television program) corresponding to a predetermined packet ID is removed from the TS of the digital television broadcast signal by the PID filter 12.
• a packet for broadcasting data content is secured in the broadcast band as shown in Fig. 1B, there may be caused a case where packets storing the data content are removed by the PID filter 12.
• the application program can be controlled interlocking with the progress of the AV content such as a television program without providing a band for data broadcast in a broadcast band for digital television broadcast.
• a reception apparatus that receives an audio and/or video (AV) content
• the apparatus including: an extraction section to extract trigger information (or other information regarding the data content) from the AV content, the trigger information being related to an application program that is executed interlocking with a progress of the AV content, the trigger information including a trigger type; and a control section to control one of an activation of the application program, a dispatch of an event of the application program being executed, and an end of the application program being executed in accordance with the trigger type included in the extracted trigger information.
• trigger information or other information regarding the data content
• the trigger information being related to an application program that is executed interlocking with a progress of the AV content
• the trigger information including a trigger type
• a control section to control one of an activation of the application program, a dispatch of an event of the application program being executed, and an end of the application program being executed in accordance with the trigger type included in the extracted trigger information.
• a transmission apparatus that transmits an audio and/or video (AV) content
• the apparatus including a transmission section to store trigger information in the AV content to be transmitted, the trigger information being related to an application program that is executed by a reception apparatus, interlocking with a progress of the AV content.
• the trigger information includes a trigger type that includes at least one of an application activation of instructing an activation of the application program, an application event of instructing a dispatch of an event of the application program being executed, and an application end of instructing an end of the application program being executed.
• an apparatus for providing access to data content on a server may include an insertion unit configured to insert information regarding the data content into a digital television broadcast signal, the digital television broadcast signal not including the data content; and an output unit configured to output the digital television broadcast signal for broadcast.
• an apparatus for receiving data content may include a receiving unit configured to receive, over a first communication channel, a digital television broadcast signal containing information regarding the data content accessible over a second communications channel; and an extracting unit configured to extract the information regarding the data content from the digital television broadcast signal.
• a method for providing access to data content on a server may include inserting information regarding the data content into a digital television broadcast signal, the digital television broadcast signal not including the data content; and outputting the digital television broadcast signal.
• a method for receiving data content may include receiving, over a first communication channel, a digital television broadcast signal containing information regarding the data content accessible over a second communications channel; and extracting the information regarding the data content from the digital television broadcast signal.
• the system may include a broadcasting apparatus configured to broadcast a digital television broadcast signal over a first communication channel, the digital television broadcast signal including information regarding the data content and not including the data content; and a server configured to transmit the data content over a second communications channel in response to a request for the data content.
• a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause a computer to perform a method.
• the method may include inserting information regarding data content into a digital television broadcast signal, the digital television broadcast signal not including the data content; and outputting the digital television broadcast signal.
• a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause a computer to perform a method.
• the method may include receiving, over a first communication channel, a digital television broadcast signal containing information regarding the data content; extracting the information regarding the data content from the digital television broadcast signal; and acquiring the data content over a second communications channel using the information regarding the data content.
• Figs. 1 are diagrams each showing a broadcast band for digital television broadcast.
• Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a structure of an existing CATV retransmission system.
• Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a structural example of a broadcast system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
• Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a structural example of a reception apparatus to which the embodiment of the present invention is applied.
• Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a concept of transmitting a PCR packet of a TS including trigger information.
• Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a specific arrangement of the trigger information in the PCR packet.
• Fig. 7 is a diagram showing items included in the trigger information.
• Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a syntax of the trigger information.
• Fig. 9 is a flowchart for describing trigger information processing.
• Figs. 10 are each diagrams for describing distribution of access to a server.
• Fig. 11 is a display example of a screen at a time when a data broadcast application is executed.
• Fig. 12 is another display example of the screen at the time when the data broadcast application is executed.
• Figs. 13 are diagrams each showing an example in which the trigger information is embedded in a base band video signal.
• Fig. 14 is a block diagram showing a structural example of a computer.
• Fig. 3 shows a broadcast system 30 as this embodiment.
• the broadcast system 30 realizes a service of data content that can interlock with AV content of television programs without providing a band for broadcasting the data content in a broadcast band for digital television broadcast in the current United States, for example.
• the broadcast system 30 includes a broadcast apparatus 41 and a server 42 that are installed on a broadcast station side, and a reception apparatus 60 installed on a receiver side.
• the broadcast apparatus 41 outputs or transmits a digital television broadcast signal. It is assumed that a broadcast band of the digital television broadcast signal is occupied by a video band, an audio band, and a control information band as shown in Fig. 1A and a band for broadcasting data content is not provided.
• the broadcast apparatus 41 stores or inserts, at a predetermined timing, information regarding the data content, such as trigger information, in a packet that is defined not to be removed by CATV apparatus, such as a Program Clock Reference (PCR) packet in a TS packet constituting a TS (transport stream) of the digital television broadcast signal. Then, the broadcast apparatus 41 transmits the digital television broadcast signal storing the trigger information.
• a packet that is defined not to be removed by CATV apparatus such as a Program Clock Reference (PCR) packet in a TS packet constituting a TS (transport stream) of the digital television broadcast signal.
• PCR Program Clock Reference
• the information regarding the data content may entirely be trigger information including information indicating an execution timing of a data broadcast content, information indicating an acquisition source of a data broadcast content, and the like.
• the trigger information will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 5 to 8.
• the server 42 supplies a data broadcast content or the like to the reception apparatus 60 in response to a request from the reception apparatus 60 that accesses the server 42 via an Internet 50.
• the reception apparatus 60 receives the digital television broadcast signal that is broadcast from the broadcast apparatus 41 over a first communications channel, such as a terrestrial RF broadcast, and acquires video and audio of an AV content corresponding to a television program, to thereby output the acquired video and audio to a monitor (not shown). Further, the reception apparatus 60 accesses the server 42 over a second communications channel, such as via the Internet 50, and acquires a data broadcast content. It should be noted that the reception apparatus 60 may exist individually or may be incorporated into a television set or a video recorder, for example.
• the reception apparatus 60 includes a receiving unit such as a tuner 61, an extracting unit such as a demultiplexing section 62, an audio decoder 63, an audio output section 64, a video decoder 65, a trigger detection section 66, a video output section 67, a controller 68, a memory 69, an operation section 70, a recording section 71, a communication I/F 72, and a browser 73.
• the tuner 61 receives and demodulates a digital television broadcast signal corresponding to a channel selected by a user and outputs a resultant TS to the demultiplexing section 62.
• the demultiplexing section 62 demultiplexes the TS input from the tuner 61 into an encoded audio signal, an encoded video signal, and a control signal, and outputs the encoded audio signal, the encoded video signal, and the control signal to the audio decoder 63, the video decoder 65, and the controller 68, respectively.
• the demultiplexing section 62 extracts a PCR packet including the trigger information arranged in the TS and outputs the PCR packet to the controller 68.
• the audio decoder 63 decodes the input encoded audio signal and outputs a resultant audio signal to the audio output section 64.
• the audio output section 64 outputs the input audio signal to a subsequent stage (for example, speaker).
• the video decoder 65 decodes the encoded video signal thus input and outputs a resultant video signal to the trigger detection section 66 and the video output section 67.
• the trigger detection section 66 constantly monitors the input video signal and detects trigger information embedded in the video signal (which corresponds to another transmission method (described later) different from the transmission method in the case where the trigger information is stored in the PCR packet).
• the video output section 67 outputs the video signal input from the video decoder 65 to a subsequent stage (for example, monitor). Further, the video output section 67 combines a video of a data broadcast content that is input from the browser 73 and the video signal input from the video decoder 65 and outputs the combined resultant to the subsequent stage.
• the output from the audio output section 64 and the video output section 67 to the subsequent stages can be performed using an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) cable.
• the controller 68 controls the entire reception apparatus 60 by executing a control program recorded in the memory 69. Further, the controller 68 controls acquisition, activation, event dispatch, end, and the like of an application program for implementing a data broadcast content that interlocks with a television program based on the trigger information input from the demultiplexing section 62 (or trigger detection section 66).
• a control program executed by the controller 68 is recorded.
• the control program can be updated based on a digital television broadcast signal or update data acquired via the Internet 50.
• the operation section 70 receives various operations from the user and notifies the controller 68 of operation signals corresponding to the various operations.
• the recording section 71 stores a downloaded data broadcast application in a built-in recording medium in a case where the data broadcast application is distributed using a digital television broadcast signal.
• the communication I/F 72 is connected to the server 42 via the Internet 50 under the control of the browser 73.
• the browser 73 acquires an application program for data broadcast (hereinafter, referred to simply as data broadcast application) from the server 42 via the communication I/F 72 and the Internet 50 under the control of the controller 68.
• Fig. 5 shows a concept of a case where the trigger information stored in PCR packets of a TS is transmitted.
• the trigger information is not stored in all PCR packets but stored in PCR packets at only adequate timings for interlocking with an AV content corresponding to a television program.
• the PCR packet is a type of packet defined to remain in a transport stream after processing by a CATV retransmission system, the PCR packet passes through a PID filter 12 of a CATV retransmission apparatus 2 shown in Fig. 2 in general.
• the trigger information can thus be notified to a reception apparatus using a CATV network (digital television set 4 of Fig. 2).
• the same trigger information is transmitted a plurality of number of times in consideration of a case where the trigger information is not received by the reception apparatus 60.
• Fig. 6 shows a position at which the trigger information is stored in a PCR packet.
• the PCR packet is obtained by storing a PCR in "adaptation_field" of a TS packet, and the trigger information (TriggerInfo_descriptor) is stored in "transport_private_data_byte” subsequent to the PCR. It should be noted that in a case where the trigger information is stored, "transport_private_data_flag" of "Various flags" provided before the PCR is set to 1.
• Fig. 7 shows an example of information items included in the trigger information.
• a trigger ID is information for identifying relevant trigger information. In the case where the same trigger information is transmitted a plurality of number of times, the trigger IDs of the respective pieces of trigger information are the same. Further, the same trigger ID is imparted to pieces of trigger information in which only server access distribution parameters described later are different.
• a trigger type indicates that the trigger information is in any state of "application execute” (that instructs acquisition and activation of data broadcast application), "application terminate” (that instructs end of data broadcast application being executed), “inject-event” that instructs dispatch of event (update of displayed contents etc.) in data broadcast application being executed), and “precache” (that instructs only acquisition of data broadcast application).
• An application ID is information for identifying a data broadcast application corresponding to the trigger information.
• An application type is information indicating a type of the data broadcast application (for example, html and java) corresponding to the trigger information.
• a business company ID is information for identifying a business company (broadcast station etc.) that performs a service of executing the data broadcast application corresponding to the trigger information.
• An application URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is a URL of an acquisition source, that is, information regarding a location, of the data broadcast application (in this case, server 42) in the case where the trigger type is "application execute " or "precache".
• An accumulation application ID is described only when an accumulated data broadcast application to be activated (already acquired data broadcast application) is designated without instantly acquiring a data broadcast application in the case where the trigger type is "application execute ".
• An automatic activation flag is described in the case where the trigger type is "application execute” and is set to on or off.
• the automatic activation flag is on, “automatic execute” (to automatically activate data broadcast application) is set.
• the automatic activation flag is off, “manual activation” (to prompt user to make operation input and activate data broadcast application in accordance with operation input) is set.
• An application end time is information that indicates a time at which the data broadcast application being executed is ended in the case where the trigger information whose trigger type is "application terminate" is not received.
• a server access distribution parameter is a value N (integer of 2 or more) for distributing access, or controlling attempts to access server 42 among a plurality of receiver devices so as to avoid concentration on a certain period of time when each reception apparatus 60 that has received the trigger information acquires a data broadcast application from the server 42.
• N integer of 2 or more
• the server access distribution parameter N of the first trigger information it is only necessary to transmit the same trigger information 4 times, and set the server access distribution parameter N of the first trigger information to 4, the server access distribution parameter N of the second trigger information to 3, the server access distribution parameter N of the third trigger information to 2, and the server access distribution parameter N of the fourth trigger information to 1. That is, the access distribution parameter may be sequentially inserted or transmitted as a plurality of values.
• the server access distribution parameter N has only to be set to 1. Details of the server access distribution parameter will be described later with reference to Figs. 10.
• An application name is a name of a data broadcast application to be presented to the user in a case where the automatic activation flag is set to "manual activation”.
• An event ID is information for identifying an event in a case where the trigger type is set to "inject-event”. It should be noted that the trigger information does not include all the items described above generally, but includes only items necessary at that timing.
• Fig. 8 shows an example of a syntax of the trigger information. It should be noted that the syntax of the trigger information is arbitrarily set and is not limited to that of Fig. 8.
• trigger information processing an operation at a time when the reception apparatus 60 receives the trigger information (hereinafter, referred to as trigger information processing) will be described.
• Fig. 9 is a flowchart for describing the trigger information processing.
• the trigger information processing is executed repeatedly when the user is viewing a television program, that is, during a period of time in which a digital television broadcast signal is being received.
• Step S1 the controller 68 waits until a PCR packet including trigger information is received based on an input from the demultiplexing section 62. Then, when the PCR packet including trigger information is received, the processing proceeds to Step S2.
• Step S2 the controller 68 extracts the trigger information from the received PCR packet and judges whether processing of Step S4 and subsequent steps are already performed on the trigger information. When it is judged that the processing of Step S4 and subsequent steps are already performed, the processing returns to Step 1 and repeats the subsequent steps. Conversely, when it is judged that processing of Step S4 and subsequent steps are not performed on the trigger information, the processing proceeds to Step S3.
• Step S3 the controller 68 judges whether the current processing is valid (whether the processing proceeds to Step S4 and subsequent steps to perform server access) or invalid (whether the processing returns to Step S1) based on the server access distribution parameter N of the trigger information. It should be noted that in a case where the server access distribution parameter N is not described in the trigger information, the processing proceeds to Step S4.
• Step S3 the judgment in Step S3 as to whether the current processing is valid or invalid will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 10.
• the same trigger information is transmitted 4 times from the broadcast apparatus 41, and the server access distribution parameter N may have a plurality of values.
• the server access distribution parameter N of the first trigger information is set to 4, the server access distribution parameter N of the second trigger information to 3, the server access distribution parameter N of the third trigger information to 2, and the server access distribution parameter N of the fourth trigger information to 1.
• the controller 68 of the reception apparatus 60 judges validity or invalidity based on random numbers or the like under the condition in which validity is judged in the probability of 1/N, that is, the server access distribution parameter N corresponds to different probabilities of access to the server.
• Step S4 the controller 68 judges to which of "application execute”, “inject-event”, “application terminate”, and "precache” a trigger type of the trigger information is set.
• Step S5 the controller 68 judges whether an accumulation application ID is designated in the trigger information and a data broadcast application corresponding thereto is already accumulated in the recording section 71.
• Step S6 the controller 68 controls the browser 73 to access the server 42 that corresponds to an application URL of the trigger information and acquire a data broadcast application that corresponds to an application ID of the trigger information.
• the data broadcast application is used. After that, the processing proceeds to step S8.
• Step S5 when it is judged in Step S5 that an accumulation application ID is designated in the trigger information and a data broadcast application corresponding thereto is already accumulated in the recording section 71, the processing proceeds to Step S7.
• Step S7 the controller 68 controls the browser 73 to read the data broadcast application corresponding to the accumulation application ID of the trigger information from the recording section 71. After that, the processing proceeds to Step S8.
• Step S8 the controller 68 judges whether an automatic activation flag of the trigger information is set to "automatic execute".
• Step S8 When it is judged in Step S8 that an automatic activation flag of the trigger information is not "automatic activation" (that is, the flag is set to "manual activation"), the processing proceeds to Step S9.
• Step S9 the browser 73 prompts the user to make an activation operation of the data broadcast application by displaying, for example, "Execute (application name)?" on a screen based on the control by the controller 68.
• Step S10 that an activation operation has been input by the user in response to the prompt display
• Step S12 the browser 73 activates the data broadcast application that has been acquired in Step S6 or read in Step S7 under the control of the controller 68. After that, the processing returns to Step S1 and repeats Step S1 and the subsequent steps.
• Step S10 when it is judged that an activation operation is not input by the user in Step S10 after the prompt display in Step S9 and that a predetermined period of time has elapsed without an activation operation input by the user in Step S11, the processing returns to Step S1 and repeats Step S1 and the subsequent steps.
• Step S8 when it is judged in Step S8 that an automatic activation flag of the trigger information is set to "automatic activation”, the processing proceeds to Step S12.
• Step S12 the browser 73 activates the data broadcast application that has been acquired in Step S6 or read in Step S7 under the control of the controller 68. After that, the processing returns to Step S1 and repeats Step S1 and the subsequent steps.
• Step S4 When it is judged in Step S4 that a trigger type of the trigger information is " inject-event", the processing proceeds to Step S13.
• Step S13 only when an application ID of the trigger information is matched to an application ID of the data broadcast application being operated, the controller 68 controls the browser 73 to dispatch (execute) an event corresponding to an event ID of the trigger information in the application being operated. After that, the processing returns to Step S1 and repeats Step S1 and the subsequent steps.
• Step S4 When it is judged in Step S4 that a trigger type of the trigger information is "application terminate", the processing proceeds to Step S14.
• Step S14 only when an application ID of the trigger information is matched to an application ID of the data broadcast application being operated, the controller 68 controls the browser 73 to end the application being operated. After that, the processing returns to Step S1 and repeats Step S1 and the subsequent steps.
• the data broadcast application being operated is ended when an application end time comes, the application end time being described in the trigger information when the data broadcast application being operated has been activated.
• Step S4 When it is judged in Step S4 that a trigger type of the trigger information is "precache", the processing proceeds to Step S15.
• Step S15 the controller 68 controls the browser 73 to access the server 42 corresponding to an application URL of the trigger information and acquire a data broadcast application corresponding to an application ID of the trigger information, to thereby store the data broadcast application in a storage means such as a cache memory included in the browser 73. After that, the processing returns to Step S1 and repeats Step S1 and the subsequent steps.
• Step S15 When the trigger type is "precache" as in Step S15, before a broadcast time of a television program to be interlocked comes, a corresponding data broadcast application can be acquired. As a result, the corresponding data broadcast application can be executed simultaneously with the start of the television program to be interlocked. In addition, an effect of distributing the concentration of access to the server 42 is expected.
• the description on the trigger information processing is ended up to here.
• Fig. 11 shows a transition of a screen at a time when a data broadcast application is executed interlocking with the progress of a television program in a case where the automatic activation flag of the trigger information is off ("manual activation").
• a corresponding data broadcast application is acquired.
• an indication that prompts the user to make an activation operation of the data broadcast application is displayed to be superimposed on a video of the television program.
• the data broadcast application is activated and the display of the screen is changed into a combination of a video corresponding to the data broadcast application and the video of the television program.
• the data broadcast application being executed is ended and the video of the television program is displayed on the entire screen.
• the data broadcast application that is executed interlocking with the progress of a television program is not necessarily accompanied with display on the screen.
• That data broadcast application can be executed without being known by the user of the reception apparatus 60.
• Such a data broadcast application is applicable to a case where an audience survey of a television program is executed, for example. Specifically, whether the television program is being viewed is recorded in accordance with the trigger information whose trigger type is " inject-event", and the recording results are notified to a predetermined server at a predetermined timing, with the result that an audience rating of the television program can be investigated at a transmission interval of the trigger information whose trigger type is " inject-event".
• Fig. 12 shows a transition of a screen at a time when a data broadcast application without display on the screen is executed interlocking with the progress of a television program in a case where the automatic activation flag of the trigger information is on ("automatic activation").
• the trigger information is stored in the PCR packet of the TS to be transmitted in the above description, the trigger information may be embedded in a base band video signal to be transmitted.
• Figs. 13 show two examples in which the trigger information is embedded in a base band video signal.
• Fig. 13A shows an example in which the trigger information is changed into a two-dimensional barcode and superimposed at a predetermined position in an image of the base band video signal (in this case, lower right corner).
• Fig. 13B shows an example in which the trigger information is changed into a video code and combined into number lines positioned on a lower side of an image of the base band video signal.
• the trigger information of Figs. 13A and 13B are detected by the trigger detection section 66 of the reception apparatus 60.
• the trigger information is arranged on the screen of the television program in both Figs. 13A and 13B, the trigger information can also be notified to, for example, a reception apparatus using a CATV network (for example, television set 6 of Fig. 2).
• a CATV network for example, television set 6 of Fig. 2.
• the trigger information on the screen can be viewed by the user of the reception apparatus 60 in both cases of Figs. 13A and 13B, if this is not desirable, the two-dimensional barcode or video code may be displayed after being masked by the same pixels as those around the two-dimensional barcode or video code.
• the trigger information related to data broadcast is embedded in a PCR packet or a base band video signal to be transmitted, whereas a data broadcast application is supplied from a server via the Internet.
• a service of data content that can interlock with television programs can be realized without providing a band for data broadcast in a broadcast band for digital television broadcast.
• the access to the server can be distributed so as to avoid the concentration thereof on a certain period of time.
• a series of processing described above can be executed by hardware and can also be executed by software.
• a program constituting the software is installed from a program recording medium to a computer incorporated in dedicated hardware, a general-purpose personal computer capable of executing various functions by installing various programs, or the like.
• Fig. 14 is a block diagram showing a structural example of hardware of a computer that executes the series of processing described above by a program.
• a CPU Central Processing Unit
• ROM Read Only Memory
• RAM Random Access Memory
• An input/output interface 105 is also connected to the bus 104. Connected to the input/output interface 105 are an input section 106, an output section 107, a storage section (that is, a computer-readable storage medium) 108, a communication section 109, and a drive 110.
• the input section 106 includes a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, and the like.
• the output section 107 includes a display, a speaker, and the like.
• the storage section 108 includes a hard disk, a nonvolatile memory, and the like, and may store instructions for execution by the CPU.
• the communication section 109 includes a network interface and the like.
• the drive 110 drives removable medium 111 such as a magnet disc, an optical disc, a magneto-optical disc, or a semiconductor memory.
• the CPU 101 loads a program having instructions stored in, for example, the storage section 108 in the RAM 103 via the input/output interface 105 and the bus 104 and executes the program, with the result that the series of processing described above is performed.
• the program executed by the computer may be a program with which processing is performed in a chronological order along the order described herein, or may be a program with which processing is performed in parallel or at a necessary timing when a calling is made or the like.
• the program may be one processed by one computer or one processed in a distributed manner by a plurality of computers.
• the program may be one transferred to a remote computer and then executed.
• system herein refers to a plurality of apparatuses, as a whole.
• broadcast system 41 broadcast apparatus 42 server 60 reception apparatus 61 tuner 62 demultiplexing section 63 audio decoder 64 audio output section 65 video decoder 66 trigger detection section 67 video output section 68 controller 69 memory 70 operation section 71 recording section 72 communication I/F 73 browser

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
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• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
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• Two-Way Televisions, Distribution Of Moving Picture Or The Like (AREA)
• Television Systems (AREA)
• Circuits Of Receivers In General (AREA)
• Information Transfer Between Computers (AREA)

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